Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health & Well-being (SDG 3)
Optimization and Analysis of the Polysaccharide Alginate and Nutrient Compounds Present in Pelagic Brown Macroalgae Piling up on Barbados Beaches Keane C. Mason* and Srinivasa R. Popuri Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados –BB11000 The periodic washing of the brown algae Sargassum sp. on Barbados and Caribbean shores has become a National emergency as it endangers the fisheries, tourism and economic sectors, and marine species due to accumulation of unprecedented quantities, and its rotting sulfurous odour. In order to find a solution to this seaweed dilemma, this research focused on the determination of the composition of Sargassum seaweed, extraction of its polysaccharide alginate and the physico-chemical properties of the seaweed and its polymer. The extraction of sodium alginate from the photosynthetic biomass can not only satisfy the United Nation’s goal of zero hunger, but also good health and well- being as it is a natural compound which is very versatile due to its uses in the food, medical, pharmaceutical and agricultural industry. The species Sargassum natans VIII, Sargassum natans I, Sargassum fluitans and Sargassum sp. were all analysed for their carbohydrate, protein, lipid, fiber, moisture and ash content using standard methods. The carbohydrate content in Sargassum natans VIII, Sargassum natans I, Sargassum fluitans and Sargassum sp. were found to be 45.0, 39.2, 41.9 and 65.7% and protein content; 1.83, 2.81, 3.05 and 5.49%, respectively. The moisture content was determined 16.0, 18.03, 18.8 and 18.1% for Sargassum natans VIII, Sargassum natans I, Sargassum fluitans and Sargassum sp., respectively. Sodium alginate was extracted using a modified standard method and the parameters that influenced the maximum extraction were optimized. The concentration of acid and temperature played an important role in increasing the alginate extraction and the maximum amount of alginate obtained was 30%. Maximum extraction percentage of alginate may lead to the development of alginate based industries or economies in the Caribbean as it has more than one hundred applications in our daily life.
P24
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